MSE Pregnancy Club 24

*Nutella*

LittleMissGiggle wrote: »

hello ladies, I am sat here today trying to distract myself from my own thoughts, so thought i'd come see if anyone here has any advice..... I'm 12 days overdue and induction is booked for tomorrow. Have to ring the hospital at lunch time to see what time they want me to go in. LO is showing absolutely no signs of coming of its own accord so it seems induction tomorrow is inevitable.

I have just about got my head around the induction part, really hoping pessaries will be enough as my birth plan was detailing minimal monotoring and a water birth which will be a definate no if they have to use the IV drip to start me off. I've even almost got my head around the possibility that OH will have to go homeovernight if nothings happening, but what I cant get my head around is the possibility of a c-section. I am absolutely petrified of the thought of one, I can't bear it. I'm trying not to get stressed about it as it can trigger my asthma but it's there lurking in my mind and if i think about it i get close to tears, and I dont do tears!!!

Anyone have any advice to reassure me its not worth being scared of the possibility of csection???

Hope you are all well and thanks once again for being there even tho i dont post regularly!

I had a c-section following a failed induction. If you'd asked me about it in advance, I'd have said I was petrified too (c-section was a real possibility earlier on as baby was breech but later turned). But as it happened it was absolutely fine. You don't feel anything when they do the actual operation and you don't see what's happening as they put up a screen. Your birth partner can sit with you in the theatre and gets to hold the baby as soon as it's born. You can do skin to skin and try breastfeeding as soon as the operation is finished - about 20 minutes after the baby's born.

You'll get as much or as little pain relief as you like. The following day you'll be encouraged to get out of bed, move around and take a shower. I had my c-section at 8pm and did this by mid-day the next day. Your movement will be limited, but you CAN move around.

I stayed indoors for the first few days and was in a bit of pain, but probably no worse than someone who'd had a VBAC and had stitches somewhere else (and you won't have to worry about pain when going to the loo!). You'll need lots of rest and shouldn't lift anything heavier than the baby for a while, so let someone else do the hoovering and focus on the baby - plenty of time for bonding. There was nothing baby-related that I couldn't do from Day 1. You'll be fully recovered within 6 weeks, but I did long walks, housework etc. long before then.

Given the choice, I'd probably have a c-section again - it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Good luck tomorrow - will be thinking of you and sending big hugs

MrsExcited

ikkle87 wrote: »

Haha he whispers secrets and stuff and blows raspberrys on my belly cos it makes the baby kick. Then when he's sulking with me he tells bubs to beat me up lol. Also when we watch tv and something happens he turns round to my belly and says if you do that my boy your grounded till your 40 lol.

I just love it, I can't get over the fact that this time last year I thought I couldn't have kids, or that it would be very difficult to say the least. Then at christmas I was worried I was having anovulatory cycles and now I've got a baby inside me and only 90 days to go till my due date and it's just overwhelming and amazing and even though I've been ill and in pain, I wouldn't change a second of this pregnancy cos it's making my boy and I can't wait to meet him, but he's got to cook a bit longer yet.

aww that's lovely Ikkle! xx:)

savageHK

moneypuddle wrote: »

Is there an earliest date I could start maternity leave (not including holiday etc) and a latest date I would need to start by?

I'm not sure of the latest date although I think it's the day you give birth (by default) as you have to take 2 weeks off after that.
The other dates are all on direct.gov - you can enter your due date and it'll spit out a calendar for you. http://www.direct.gov.uk/maternity.dsb

moneypuddle

Thank you! I really don't want to go back after maternity leave. I'm going to start looking for another job once Ive been off a few months!

MrsExcited

RebekahR wrote: »

Right we are scanned. Baby estimated at 6-10lb already! Geeze. My bump is tiny how am I hiding a baby that size in there?! LOL. I will be skin and bone when she comes out lol. They have offered the ecv and i'm booked in for Tuesday 2pm. No food after breakies at 7am ... *Sob*. I will be ravinous! ... So we are half way there to a vaginal delivery. Lets hope she co-operates and it works! Only down point is it's not the consultant himself but his registrar as he is on holiday ... bad timing eh!

good for you Rebs. I hope it works.

Will you have to be on standby for a c section during the version? does that mean you may be having a baby on Tuesday?

moneypuddle

One more question - the SMP of £135/week - is this gross or net?

ikkle87

moneypuddle wrote: »

Wow this thread moves quickly. I can't keep up!

Getting seriously fed up of work now. I'm due on Thurs 4th Oct. Is there an earliest date I could start maternity leave (not including holiday etc) and a latest date I would need to start by? My boss is absolutely clueless and just shrugs whenever I ask her about dates etc

How long is everyone planning to be off for? I want to win the lottery (not a lot, even just a couple of thousand would change our lives at the minute!)

15th July is earliest hun but they need 4 weeks notice x

sexymouse

That amount is for statutory maternity allowance rather than maternity pay moneypuddle. Maternity allowance is tax and national insurance free, and is based on that maximum amount or 90% of your average earnings over a 13 weeks period (whichever is lowest). You can only get SMA if you're not entitled to SMP. SMP is based on 90% of your average earnings over an 8week period before your qualifying week. As far as I'm aware, SMP is taxed and you pay NI too. It's really complicated.

Gillyx

I think it's gross, but don't quote me on that x

moneypuddle

sexymouse wrote: »

That amount is for statutory maternity allowance rather than maternity pay moneypuddle. Maternity allowance is tax and national insurance free, and is based on that maximum amount or 90% of your average earnings over a 13 weeks period (whichever is lowest). You can only get SMA if you're not entitled to SMP. SMP is based on 90% of your average earnings over an 8week period before your qualifying week. As far as I'm aware, SMP is taxed and you pay NI too. It's really complicated.

Hmm, but on the link posted it definitely says that £135 is SMP:

Statutory maternity pay

You are probably entitled to the following Statutory Maternity Pay:

• 90 per cent of your average weekly earnings for the first 6 full weeks of your Ordinary Maternity leave.
  Based on the information you provided, this will be £456.3 a week for 6 full weeks.
• £135.45 a week, or 90 per cent of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for a further 33 weeks.
  Based on the information you provided, this will be £135.45 a week for 33 weeks.